Mohammad Hafeez Saddened After Getting Suspended from Bowling for the 3rd Time in Recent Years

The No.1 ranked all-rounder in the world, Mohammad Hafeez has yet again been suspended from bowling with immediate effect by the ICC after an independent assessment by the Loughborough University found the majority of Hafeez’s deliveries exceeding the 15 degrees level of tolerance allowed by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

It has been three times in the recent years that Hafeez has been reported for suspect bowling action. He was reported by the on-field umpires during the ODI series against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi last month and underwent the assessment a couple of weeks ago.

Data of Hafeez’s deliveries were captured for four overs, and the data was recorded for only the deliveries that the tester showed was legal. It is believed that less than half a dozen of his deliveries were within the 15-degree tolerance level. However, the margin wasn’t as big as Saeed Ajmal’s when the off-spinner was suspended a few years ago.

However, there will be no consolation for the Asian giants as Hafeez’s return as a bowler in the national team lent the ideal balance in the limited overs side which has propelled them to the numero uno position in the Latest ICC T20I Rankings. Hafeez was part of the bowling brigade which was instrumental in Pakistan lifting the Champions Trophy in June.

The only hope for Pakistan is that Hafeez can resume bowling whenever he rectifies his action and gets cleared by the Loughborough University. Hafeez was very disappointed with ICC’s decision but conceded that he would work harder to come back stronger the next time around.

Taking to his twitter handle Hafez wrote, “Saddened to know the result of my bowling action from ICC , it would never pull me down , will never give up , worked so hard to remodelled it & will work again twice harder to get better to serve my beloved country Pakistan  & Achieve MORE #NO1allrounder.”

Saddened to know the result of my bowling action from ICC , it would never pull me down , wil never give up , worked so hard to remodelled it & wil work again twice harder to get better to serve my beloved country Pakistan ?? & Achieve MORE #NO1allrounder

— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) November 16, 2017

It is unlikely that Hafeez will be back as a bowler in Pakistan’s next assignment during an ODI series in New Zealand in January. Pakistan next plays England in May, so Hafeez has enough time to rectify his action yet again but he has to make sure that he works very hard to make sure that it doesn’t keep on repeating.